Okay guys...seeing how I'm getting quite sick of seeing constant rumors about the MTA Team, the mod's history, and even things related to SA:MP, I feel it's time that some of these rumors be brought out into the open and debunked once and for all.
I cannot speak for the MTA and SA:MP Teams themselves, although over the last few years with my development on 0.5r2 and beyond, I've learned quite a bit. It is up to the MTA Team if they wish to answer any further questions or comments in this topic, but I think it's time someone brings this to light.
Welcome to Multi Theft Auto: Debunked!
Question: Is it true that the Multi Theft Auto Team has or had access to GTA source code, (from any version of GTA)?
Answer: No. Although the Rockstar development team was nice enough to give the MTA Team some insider information and code snippets to help them with their mod back when the company unofficially supported modders who enjoyed their games, the MTA Team was not given any source code at all, nor was the Rockstar development team working on any of the Multi Theft Auto projects.
Question: Is it true that the MTA and SA:MP Teams hate each other?
Answer: Not at all! Yes, there is competition, and yes, there is some personal anger between the mod leaders over past disagreements on how the mods should work, but they do not hate each other. This is simply a fanboy-created war from both sides of both mods that have blown things up in everyone's faces, even leading to both real and fake accusations and statements from both teams about each other.
Question: Is it true that MTA:SA Blue's source code is made of MTA:VC Blue's source code?
Answer: Yes and no. Although much of the basic design was carried over, as was some code that by now may or may not have been rewritten, both versions of Blue do retain similar traits and methods. However, when the MTA Team decided to move to MTA:SA on the Blue core, they rewrote the incomplete MTA:VC Blue source to accommodate GTA:SA, instead of GTA:VC, as well as changed quite a few things in the way it works.
Simply put, MTA:SA Blue is a newer, better version of MTA:VC Blue, but only meant for GTA:SA in it's current form. It would take some considerable work to get it working on GTA III and/or GTA:VC, but it is possible with the core itself.
Question: My anti-virus reports MTA 0.x or a very early version of MTA 1.x is a virus! Is this true?!?
Answer: Not at all. As with all anti-malware programs, false positives are possible. In fact, this one is very well known for MTA 0.5 and MTA 0.5r2. The reason being is some programs used to "pack" the executables in order to protect them from people tampering with them causes anti-virus programs to think they are malicious due to similarities in code to generic viruses and trojans. As long as you download your MTA copies from an official link on the MTA domains, you are safe. However, the validity of files downloaded elsewhere cannot be confirmed, so we do not recommend getting your much-loved mods from anywhere but the official sources.
Question: Someone told me that the MTA Team does not care at all about GTA III or VC anymore! Is this true?
Answer: Far from it! The MTA Team at this time has it's main focus on GTA:SA, but they have always wanted to go back one day and work on GTA III and VC. However, due to the time it's taking to make MTA:SA as amazing as it is, this glimpse of hope grows smaller and smaller every day, especially as new developers come and go in the MTA:SA team itself, which is why it currently holds the most focus.
On the other hand, other specific users have been granted access to MTA 0.5's source code in order to try to make some use of it. Nothing is promised, but they are doing their best to get things back on track as they slowly learn. Please remember, though: MTA 0.5's source code is horrible and experimental for it's time, so it's extremely difficult to understand and work with. That means it may take some time if anything is to be made of it, or anything to be coded new in the future based on the information and knowledge it provides.
Question: I entered the MTA official IRC channel and it looks dead, or nothing about MTA is actually discussed! Did MTA die?
Answer: This one is quite common, and the answer simply is no. The reason why users assume this is because commonly people just love to hang out and chat there, and when they aren't chatting, they are AFK'ing! Time zones also heavily affect this as many of the users live in the United Kingdom or United States, which as you may know are on the opposite ends of the planet! The developers themselves also user their own private, secret channels for discussing the actual development of the mod, so don't get discouraged if you don't see them talking about code in there!
Remember, it is a public channel. If they used it for all their development discussions too, everyone would be making comments about it left and right and they would never be able to get anything done!
Question: Why is the MTA Team so secretive about their history?
Answer: Because people make assumptions and don't ask the right questions!
Question: Is it true Kye, (also known as Kalcor), used to be part of the MTA Team?
Answer: Yes. Referring to a previously answered question above, Kye and the other MTA Team members had some disagreements regarding how things should proceed in the design of the mod way back when. Due to this, they decided to split and follow their own paths so they could create their own versions of the GTA multiplayer mods for all to enjoy!
Question: I have more questions about all these rumors floating around! Why haven't you discussed them here?!?
Answer: Give me a break! I'm doing my best!
In all seriousness, though...these are just some of the many, many rumors and questions floating around the internet about the MTA Team and the mod's history. If you have more you would like an answer to, post them! If it's something I can answer unofficially, I'll do my best. If not, hopefully someone from the MTA Team would be willing to give an answer.
Please know though, I'm not here to start arguments or large discussions. I just want to clear this up once and for all. The rumors on both the MTA and SA:MP websites are getting ridiculous, and they need to stop. Splitting the mods only creates angry fanboys and inhibits any sort of future cooperation that could help both mods succeed further. Competition does not have to translate into war. We can work together for a better multiplayer experience, no matter who we choose to work with or who's mod we play.
